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Wildflowers At Pinnacles National Park

Shooting Star (Dodecatheon) was the highlight for me at the park. Popping up in bright pink clumps along streams, this wildflower made the most impact on me.

I've been traveling throughout California for weeks, enjoying the California Poppies starting to show their colors along the highways and other wildflowers basking in the sun.

This past weekend, at Pinnacles National Park, a variety of wildflowers were blooming and I went on a scavenger hunt of sorts. With help from the rangers, I was able to identify the gorgeous wildflowers blooming among the caves, cliffs and rolling green hills of the park.

Indian Warrior (Pedicularis densiflora) is often used to color tea.

Certain varieties of Buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus) can only be found in this area.

Blue Dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum) looks gorgeous blooming alongside California Poppies, which I didn't get to see in the park.

Popcorn flowers (Plagiobothrys) is a delicate, white wildflower.

Woolly Indian paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa) painted the rocky hillsides orange at the park.

Woolly Indian paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa)

Woolly Indian paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa)

More Shooting Star.

And more!

Mixed wildflowers off the highway outside the park.

With wildflowers starting to bloom in warmer areas of the country, it brings up the age old question, "when to plant?"

For gardeners past the chance of frost: If you didn't get the chance to plant in the fall, the cooler season (late winter) is the perfect time to plant wildflower seeds. Try to plant right before you know there might be light rain in the area to help the seeds germinate without having to water.

For gardeners still experiencing below-freezing temperatures: We know you want to plant, but now is not the time! Wait to sow your wildflower seed until the chance of frost has passed in your area and ground temperatures have warmed.